Importing new questions

This function allows you to import questions from
external text files, uploaded through a form,
or by choosing a suitable file already in the
course Files area.

A note about character encodings

If your file contains non-ascii characters then it must use UTF-8 encoding.
You may be able to select or convert to UTF-8 using your favourite editor,
or it may be an option in the exporting software.
Be particularly cautious with files generated by Microsoft Office applications,
as these commonly use special encoding which will not be handled correctly.
XML based import formats will be handled
automatically provided your Moodle server is running PHP 5.

A number of file formats are supported:

GIFT format

GIFT is the most comprehensive import format available for importing
Moodle quiz questions from a text file. It was designed to be an easy
method for teachers writing questions as a text file. It supports Multiple-Choice,
True-False, Short Answer, Matching and Numerical questions, as well as insertion
of a _____ for the "missing word" format. Various question-types can be
mixed in a single text file, and the format also supports line comments, question names,
feedback and percentage-weight grades. Below are some examples:

Aiken Format

Moodle XML format

This Moodle specific format imports quiz questions that have previously been
exported in the same format. The format is straightforward and is best demonstrated
by exporting a category in the Moodle XML format. The XML format is capabable of
importing image files.

Missing Word

This format only supports multiple choice questions and
short answer question, depending on the number of answers. One
answer generates a short answer question, two or more answers
generate a multiple choice question.
Each answer is separated with a tilde (~), and the correct answer is
prefixed with an equals sign (=). Here is an example of a multiple
choice question:

As soon as we begin to explore our body parts as infants
we become students of {=anatomy and physiology ~reflexology
~science ~experiment}, and in a sense we remain students for life.

Here is an example of a short answer question:

As soon as we begin to explore our body parts as infants
we become students of {=anatomy and physiology},
and in a sense we remain students for life.

Blackboard

This module can import questions saved in Blackboard's "POOL" type export
format. It relies on XML functions being compiled into your PHP.
Note that you must first unpack the exported zip file and provide Moodle
with the appropriate .dat file.
Note that this version does not work with Blackboard
Version 6 and newer.

Blackboard V6+

This module can import questions saved in Blackboard's export
format. It provides limited support for Blackboard Version 6 and
7. It relies on XML functions being compiled into your PHP. You
must upload the zip file exported from Blackboard.

WebCT

Course Test Manager

This module can import questions saved in a Course Test Manager test bank.
It relies on different ways of accessing the test bank, which is in a Microsoft Access
database, depending on whether Moodle is running on a Windows or Linux web server.

On Windows it lets you upload the access database just like any other data import file.

On Linux, you must set up a windows machine on the same network with the Course Test
Manager database and a piece of software called the ODBC Socket Server, which uses XML
to transfer data to moodle on the Linux server.